Top SaaS Examples of Apps That Started as Side Projects

Introduction

Top SaaS Examples of Apps That Started as Side Projects is a phrase you will see a lot when researching how small developer-led ideas scaled into businesses. Side projects are the low-cost experiments that let engineers validate product-market fit before quitting full-time jobs. The most instructive examples combine simple technical ideas, relentless user feedback loops, and business-first thinking.

This article covers the origin stories, tactical timelines, growth signals, and concrete steps you can copy. You will get case studies (Buffer, Zapier, WordPress, MailChimp, Shopify), a practical build-and-launch checklist, platform and pricing comparisons, common pitfalls and how to avoid them, and a clear 90-day plan to move a side project toward sustainable recurring revenue. If you are a developer or programmer exploring a micro SaaS, these examples and actionable resources will help you focus effort where it matters.

Top SaaS Examples of Apps That Started as Side Projects

Why study side-project origins? Because they show how tiny teams and solo makers can reach millions of users and recurring revenue without enormous upfront capital. The following case studies focus on origin, first traction, and one repeatable tactic you can apply.

Buffer - social posting scheduler

• Origin: Joel Gascoigne launched Buffer in 2010 as a simple landing page and email capture to test interest in scheduled tweets.
• Timeline and traction: Validated demand in weeks; early users converted to paid subscriptions within months after adding a simple subscription flow.
• Playbook lesson: Validate with a single landing page and a pricing experiment before building the full product. Buffer famously publicly shared metrics to accelerate trust and learn.

Zapier - user automation between web apps

• Origin: Zapier began in 2011 when developers built simple integrations to automate repetitive tasks; founders ran the project while working other jobs and entered Y Combinator 2012.
• Timeline and traction: Initial integrations focused on 2-3 well-known apps (like Gmail and Slack) to attract early workflows; early retention came from “set it and forget it” automations.
• Playbook lesson: Start with a few high-value integrations, instrument usage to measure retained automations, and charge for reliability and volume.

WordPress - content management system and SaaS via WordPress.com

• Origin: WordPress started in 2003 as a fork of b2 by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little; it was an open-source side project that grew into a SaaS offering (WordPress.com) and an ecosystem.
• Timeline and traction: Open-source model led to rapid adoption; the hosted SaaS variants monetized via upgrades, themes, and hosting.
• Playbook lesson: An open-core or community-first approach can create distribution that lowers customer acquisition cost and supports SaaS upsells.

MailChimp - email marketing platform

• Origin: MailChimp began in 2001 as a side project from a web design agency when founders Ben Chestnut and Dan Kurzius built email tools for clients.
• Timeline and traction: Grew through word-of-mouth from agency clients, added a freemium model, and scaled to hundreds of millions in annual revenue; acquired by Intuit in 2021 for about $12 billion.
• Playbook lesson: Solve an internal agency problem, productize it, then leverage the client base to test pricing and feature priorities.

Shopify - e-commerce platform

• Origin: Shopify emerged in 2006 when Tobias Lütke, Scott Lake and Daniel Weinand built an online snowboard store and then rebuilt the platform as a product for other merchants.
• Timeline and traction: Early merchant users came from the founders’ original store; the product pivoted from a single merchant store to a platform, later IPOing in 2015.
• Playbook lesson: Start by building software that solves a friction point for your own business; users trust tools born from real-world use.

Core Principles:

Why side projects scale into SaaS

• Low start-up friction: Minimal viable products (MVPs) cost little when you are the builder; you control tradeoffs.
• Direct feedback loop: As developer-founder you can instrument usage and rapidly iterate on features that affect retention and revenue.
• Focused niche distribution: Side projects often begin with a built-in initial audience (social media followers, agency clients, developer communities).
• Monetization clarity: Products that solve repeated pain can move to subscription models quickly because customers pay for ongoing value.

Each of these companies converged on a repeatable, measurable signal — signups, active automations, published posts, or paying accounts — that indicated product-market fit. Your side project should aim to surface a similarly simple metric in the first 3-6 months.

Process:

From Idea to Paying Customers

Overview

Turning a side project into SaaS requires a process that respects limited time while creating a viable product. The timeline below is a practical template for developer-founders balancing a job and a side hustle.

• Month 0: Idea and micro-validation
• Month 1: MVP build and landing page
• Months 2-3: First users and iterate on retention
• Months 4-6: Implement payments and acquisition channels
• Months 6-12: Optimize for conversion and scale

Principles

• Ship early, ship small. Build one core workflow that addresses the primary user job-to-be-done.
• Measure retention first. Acquisition without retention is a leaky bucket.
• Monetize before scaling. Add payment options early with frictionless checkout like Stripe.
• Timebox features. Prioritize features that directly improve conversion or retention.

Steps (Practical)

1. Micro-validate: Create a single landing page with a value proposition, three benefits, and a sign-up or waitlist form. Run a $50-$200 targeted ad or post to relevant communities to measure conversion rate.
2. Build an MVP: Implement the minimal end-to-end flow that demonstrates value. For a scheduler, that is: auth, create item, run item. Aim for 2-4 core screens.
3. Get feedback: Acquire 20-50 real users in your niche via outreach, developer forums, or your network. Conduct 15-minute interviews to identify top friction points.
4. Introduce pricing: Create a simple pricing ladder (free trial + two paid tiers). Use Stripe Checkout or Paddle to reduce payment complexity.
5. Measure and iterate: Track activation (first completed task), weekly active users, and churn. Iterate on the onboarding that converts signups into activated users.

Best Practices

• Build for observability: log events for onboarding completion, feature use, and payment actions.
• Automate repetitive ops: use managed databases and container deployments to reduce maintenance time.
• Protect your time: limit build sprints to evenings and weekends using a Kanban board and clear scope.
• Use prebuilt integrations: rely on SDKs and APIs (Stripe, OAuth providers) instead of custom implementations.

Examples of metrics to target in 6 months

• 1,000 signups
• 200 weekly active users
• 50-100 trial activations
• Achieve first $1,000 monthly recurring revenue (MRR)

These are not guarantees but practical targets that indicate momentum and justify moving from side project to part-time business or full-time founder decision.

Implementation:

Technical and Business Checklist

MVP Technical Checklist (Minimum Viable Product)

• Single hosted domain and landing page
• Signup/login with social or email + password
• Core workflow implemented and tested end-to-end
• Basic analytics (Google Analytics or Mixpanel)
• Subscription payments with Stripe or Paddle
• Error monitoring (Sentry) and logging

Business Checklist

• Pricing page with clear tiers and benefits
• Simple refund and terms of service page
• Email drip for onboarding (Mailchimp, ConvertKit)
• Support channel (email or Intercom free plan)
• Minimum documentation and FAQ

Example Implementation Timeline (12 Weeks)

• Week 1: Idea validation, landing page, ad test or community posts.
• Weeks 2-4: Build core workflow, integrate payment and analytics.
• Weeks 5-7: Invite beta users, run interviews, fix core UX issues.
• Weeks 8-9: Add pricing, billing tests, compliance checks.
• Weeks 10-12: Public launch, first marketing push, monitor KPIs.

Comparison:

Stripe vs Paddle vs Braintree for payments

• Stripe: Per-transaction pricing commonly 2.9% + $0.30 in many markets. Best for developers, strong APIs, and global currencies.
• Paddle: Platform model with inclusive taxes, invoicing, and payouts; fee is higher but reduces billing complexity for small teams.
• Braintree (PayPal): Similar per-transaction pricing to Stripe, integrated PayPal support; slightly more complex onboarding in some regions.

Choose Stripe for control and lowest fees in developer-friendly environments. Choose Paddle

Tools and Resources

This section lists practical platforms and pricing bands to build, host, and launch a micro SaaS side project.

Infrastructure and Hosting

• DigitalOcean: Droplets from $4/month. Simple, low-cost and suitable for small apps.
• Heroku: Free tier for prototyping, Hobby dynos at $7/month, easy deploys for Rails/Node apps.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS) Lightsail: $3.50/month entry, good if you later need scale.

Databases and Storage

• PostgreSQL: Managed add-ons on Heroku (Hobby $9/month) or AWS RDS (starts higher).
• MongoDB Atlas: Free tier for dev, paid clusters from $9/month.

Payments and Billing

• Stripe: Pay-as-you-go, no monthly, typical fees 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
• Paddle: Platform fee depends on region, typically higher but includes taxes and payouts.
• Chargebee: Subscription management, pricing starts around $249/month for small businesses; choose only if you need complex billing.

Authentication and User Management

• Auth0: Free tier for up to 7,000 users; paid plans for enterprise features.
• Clerk or Firebase Authentication: Developer-friendly alternatives with free tiers.

Analytics and Product Metrics

• Google Analytics: Free for web tracking.
• Mixpanel: Free tier with limits; paid plans for more events and retroactive analytics.
• PostHog (open source): Self-host or cloud, good for product analytics without vendor lock-in.

Email and Onboarding

• Mailchimp: Free tier for small lists, scalable pricing.
• ConvertKit: Free plan for creators up to 1,000 subscribers, paid tiers add automation.

Customer Support

• Intercom: Popular but can be expensive; Intercom’s Starter is often 39-59 USD/month.
• Crisp/Front: Cheaper alternatives with shared inboxes and chat.

Monitoring and Error Tracking

• Sentry: Free tier for small projects, then metered pricing.
• LogDNA: Paid but useful for searchable logs.

No-Code and Low-Code Options

• Bubble: Free plan for prototyping; paid plans from $29/month to run real applications.
• Webflow: Designer-friendly CMS and hosting starting at $12/month.

Pricing snapshot to plan budget for first year

• Infrastructure and database: $100 - $600/year (depending on traffic)
• Payment fees: Variable, expect 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction with Stripe
• Email and analytics: $0 - $300/year at small scale
• Monitoring and logs: $0 - $240/year with entry tiers

Total runway rough estimate for prototype and initial traction: $500 - $2,000 for the first year if you keep costs lean.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake 1: Building everything before validating demand

• How to avoid: Ship a minimal end-to-end flow, use a landing page and simple paid sign-up to test willingness to pay before coding full features.

Mistake 2: Chasing feature parity over retention

• How to avoid: Prioritize features that materially increase retention and reduce churn. Track activation metrics and A/B test onboarding changes.

Mistake 3: Overengineering for scale too early

• How to avoid: Use managed services and scalable defaults, but focus optimization only after demand justifies the effort. Premature optimization wastes time.

Mistake 4: Ignoring legal and billing basics

• How to avoid: Add clear terms, privacy policy, and a refund policy before collecting payments. Use vendors like Paddle or Stripe Tax to handle VAT/sales tax complexities.

Mistake 5: No pricing experiments

• How to avoid: Test at least two price points and a free-trial period. Use pricing as a lever to find customers willing to pay for value.

FAQ

How Long Does It Typically Take for a Side Project to Reach Consistent Revenue?

Most side projects reach initial paying customers within 3-6 months if the MVP solves a clear repetitive pain and the founder actively markets to a specific niche. Consistent, sustainable revenue often requires 6-12 months of iteration on onboarding and pricing.

Do I Have to Quit My Job to Work on a Side-Project SaaS?

No. Many founders maintain full-time work while building until the product hits predictable MRR milestones (common thresholds: $1,000 to $5,000 MRR) that justify transitioning. Plan a 3-6 month runway for decision points.

Should I Use No-Code Tools or Write Custom Code?

Start with no-code if it allows you to validate the core value quickly. Move to custom code when technical limitations block growth or cost becomes prohibitive. No-code reduces time-to-test but may limit bespoke integrations.

How Should I Price My First SaaS Offering?

Start with a simple tiered model: free tier for acquisition or a short trial, a basic paid tier that covers costs and solves the main pain, and one premium tier for power users. Run A/B pricing tests and track conversion from trial to paid.

Is Bootstrapping Realistic for SaaS That Started as Side Projects?

Yes. Many companies built from side projects bootstrap to profitability by focusing on unit economics, narrow niches, and slow steady growth. Choose bootstrapping if you value control and are targeting sustainable margins.

What Metrics Should I Track First?

Track activation (first successful outcome), weekly active users, churn, customer acquisition cost (CAC), and monthly recurring revenue (MRR). These inform product-market fit and whether your acquisition is profitable.

Next Steps:

90-day action plan

This 90-day plan is built for developers with limited time who want to move a side project toward paying customers.

Days 1-7:

Validate

• Create a one-page value proposition and landing page with clear benefits, CTA, and email capture.
• Run a small paid ad ($50) or post in targeted communities to test conversion.

Days 8-30:

Build MVP

• Implement the core workflow: auth, core action, and confirmation of value.
• Integrate Stripe Checkout and one analytics tool.

Days 31-60:

Acquire and iterate

• Invite 50-200 targeted beta users via outreach. Do 15-minute interviews with at least 20 of them.
• Implement onboarding improvements and instrument activation events.

Days 61-90:

Monetize and measure

• Launch a simple pricing page and convert beta users to paid plans.
• Measure MRR, churn, and activation. Set one improvement experiment per week (onboarding email, trial length, small UX tweak).

Checklist to launch by day 90

• Landing page with value prop
• Working MVP with core flow
• Payment integration (Stripe or Paddle)
• 50+ engaged beta users
• Onboarding and analytics instrumentation
• Pricing and refund policy published

Actionable growth experiments to run in months 3-6

• Email drip that explains 3 features over 7 days to increase activation
• Referral program offering account credit for invites
• Integration with a single popular app to expand reach (e.g., Slack or Gmail)

Summary

Side projects have a unique advantage for developer-founders: low sunk cost, direct feedback, and quick iteration loops. Studying Top SaaS Examples of Apps That Started as Side Projects shows patterns you can borrow: validate early, build a single core workflow, instrument retention, and price for continued value. Use the tools and timeline above to keep the project small, measurable, and revenue-focused.

The concrete 90-day plan and checklists steer effort toward the most predictive signals of success: activation, retention, and early recurring revenue.

Further Reading

• SaaS Ideas You Can Build in a Weekend and Start Selling
• Micro SaaS Examples That Started on a Weekend Project
• How to Validate a SaaS Idea Before You Write Any Code
• How SaaS Companies Really Make Money (Explained Simply)